Fruit and vegetable drier.



G. B. F. STOVALL. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 1918.

1,293,237., Patented Feb.4,1919.

umzntoa arm 5 7046M L.

I skn y no.

cnonenr. Ii. STOVALL, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

rnmr AND VEGETABLE Damn.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed April 23, 1918. mmal.

' z I I To all whom it may concern Be itlknown that I, GEORGE B. F. S'i'ovALL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing atBirmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit and Vegetable Driers, following is a specification.

This invention relates. to apdrying rack for fruit and vegetables which is extremely which the simple in design, compact in form, inex-' pensive in construction, and which has the very great advantagefof being adapted to be set on the top of the stove without interference with the stove eyes or the presencethe sides of the frame.

a special construction that they A further object is to so design the trays can be adjusted to any desired height and disposed to either side and with any desired spacing without requiring any of the frame to provide for those ends.

My invention also comprises a simple and novel arrangement for mounting the trays on the frame, this being done by providing the tray.=w1th rear swinging clamp hooks so arranged thatthey will engage the rear edge of the frame and cause the overbalanced weight on' the tray to press its rear edge against the front edge of the frame and clamp it securely in position.

The other advantages and novel features of my invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 presents the apparatus in perspective view mounted on a stove.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the frame with the base support in folded position.

Fig. 4 is a detall view of a tray supporting clamp hook.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

As illustrated, the frame is formed by bending a metal bar into a rectangular shape having a top member 1, vertical side members 2, and a bottom member 3, the ends .able material and I their hook ends of the bar being rireted togethera-t 4 so as to hold the rectangular frame in shape. A

base support 5,is connected by a pivot pin or loose migzet 6 to the middle of the bottom .me

ately so that 1 n its operating. position it stands at rightar gles thereto-and projects a long way to the front and a short way to the .rear of the frame which it thus serves to support in u right position. The bottom 3 is bent up s ightly at middlelso that its ends will-lie in the same plane with the bottom of the base support 5.

tables to be dried are rmed of any suitcomprise a marginal rim portion 7 having secured to its bottom surface in any suitable manner a foraminous 1 Patented Feb. a, rare.

r3 preferably being disposed under that memberand pivoted'inte'rmedior woven wire bottom 8. To each side of the tray near its rear edge .I attach a clamp hook 9. These hooks have their forward ends 10 bent at ri ht angles and inserted through and loosely riveted to the sides of the tray frame so that the hooks are free to swing vertically. These hooks are disposedto pass over and take a bearing on the rear member of the, tray frame and v 11 are disposed; in the same direction so that by alateral movement of the tray they can be caused to simultaneously engage the rear edges of the frame sides. The overbalanced weight of thetray will cause the latter as held by the hooks to press and bind against the forward edges of the frame sides in such manner that the tray becomes clamped rigidly in position on the frame,

but the tray may be readjusted or removed at any time by lifting its forward edge slightly which relaxes the clam ing action of the hooks and then lifting tffe hooks so that they become re* leased from the] frame.

In operation, the base support 5 is swung outwardly from its folded position at right angles to the frame and trays, filled with the fruit or vegetables to be dried, are presented with a slight downward inclination to the 'frame so that their books can be caused to engage the rear edges of its sides, whereupon the rear of the tray is held while its overhung forward end is allowed to swing down until the tray-clamps and binds itself in position on the frame. It will be observed that the base support will pass between the stove eyes 12 so as not to 70 The trays for holding the fruitor vegemay be in ordinary course along with the drying rear 'of frame, so

, overhun operation and withoutsacrifice of stove space to the drying apparatus.

The trays can be overhung to front and long as the frame is not thereby overbalanced.

This invention is not strictedin scope to the specific embodiment shown, but contemplates such as come within the spirit and scope of claims. 7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1. In a drying apparatus, a frame formed b a metal bar bent to provide a base and the sides disposed in the same vertical plane, a

bottom brace to support the framem up- I right position, and trays overhung from the frame above said brace.

2. In a drying rack, a frame comprising vertical side members and a connectin base, a brace member connected to the midd e portion of the base and disposed at right angles thereto, and drying trays having means along one side thereof to mount them in position on said side members above said brace.

3. In a drying apparatus, a substantially rectangular upright metallic frame having its parts lying in the same vertical plane, a supporting foot piece pivotally connected to the base of the frame, and drying trays havmg means to mount them in overhung position on the frame.

4. A drying apparatus for fruit and vegetables comprising a sin le upright frame formed by a bent metal ar shaped to rovide vertical side members connected by ase a position at right angles intended to be re-,

modifications laterally in the ga a?) and top portions, pivotally connected to the center of the frame base and adjustable horizontally to to the frame to support the latter in upright osition, and trays having attachable fastenings adapted to engage the side members of the frame and support the trays in overhung position, substantially as described, I

5. The combination with a tray support having upright members, of a drying tray having hlnged hooks'thereon adapted to en gage the rear edge of said members and clamp the tray thereto in overhung position.

6. In combination, a tray support comprising upright members and a drying tray havin two hook members pivotally connecte thereto freeto swing vertically, said hook members overhanging one edge of the tray and. having their hook ends turned same direction, said hook members being adapted to engage the supporting members and clamp the tray in overhung osition therefrom with its said edge engaging the supporting members diametrically opposite the points ofengagement of the hook members therewith, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a dryin frame having spaced ing tray 'havin two vertical swinging hooks a bottom brace member upright members, 0 a dryhinged to pro ect beyond one edge thereof far enough to permit said members to be clamped between said hooks and the said edge of the tray.

8. In combination, a supporting frame for vegetable drying trays comprising a base and upright members in combination with trays, and clamp means on the trays to engage the upright members and support the trays therefrom in overhun position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE B. F. STOVALL.

Witness NoMm WELSH. 

